ADDITIONAL PUNISHMENT OF OLDER PRISONERS – CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

Abstract

Mass incarceration as a means of crime control results in an accelerated growth in the number of older prisoners and adverse economic, social, ethical and health consequences, which is why the idea of ​​the necessity of articulating a new concept of combating crime has gradually matured. This qualitatively different approach involves the more frequent application of alternative sanctions, reducing imprisonment, mitigating the practice of imposing long sentences and making it easier to approve conditional release and compassionate release of older prisoners who do not pose a high security risk from a criminological perspective. Along with the development of policies and strategies to reduce the imprisonment of these persons, it is necessary to design and implement treatment programs that are aligned with their specific health and social needs, as well as the highest international standards in this area. This will make the prospects for resocialization and social reintegration much more certain and, at the same time, relieve the burden on prison systems that are burdened with numerous problems and are on the verge of collapse.